Pros

Cons

Bottom Line

Although not as feature-packed as more expensive gaming keyboards, the G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB offers Cherry switches, per-key RGB lighting, and an understated design at a palatable price.

Feb. 23, 2018Tom Brant

PC gamers searching for a reasonably priced, understated keyboard might be wary that they'll have to settle for suboptimal key switches or make another big compromise, but that's not the case with the G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB ($99). This mechanical gaming keyboard offers a choice of Cherry switches, per-key RGB lighting, and a few other nifty features that could make gameplay more enjoyable and typing sessions more comfortable. A few compromises are necessary—adjustability is minimal and there is no USB pass-through—but overall, the KM570 is a good second choice if the high price and daunting looks of the Editors' Choice Corsair K95 RGB Platinum turn you off.

Understated Styling, Typing Comfort

Clad in black plastic, the KM570 looks rather boring when you first take it out of the box. There are no design accoutrements other than a silver G.Skill logo above the directional arrows, and the keys are labeled with a minimalist font similar to what you'd expect to find on the keyboard that comes with your desktop PC. This understated aesthetic will likely appeal to gamers who don't want flashy hardware. If you do want some pizzazz, you'll have to be content with lighting customization if you choose this board.

Other than a number pad, a standard row of function keys, and a few keys to control audio volume, there are no additional controls on the KM570, nor is there a wrist rest. Perhaps the most notable omission is a row of programmable G keys, which you'll find on more expensive boards like the K95 RGB Platinum and even wireless models like the Logitech G613. I've grown accustomed to such keys, since they are even useful for performing productivity functions outside of gaming. Also missing on the KM570 is a full suite of dedicated media control keys. G.Skill has included the most useful ones (volume controls and mute) above the number pad, but the rest (play, pause, skip, and rewind), share space with the F9 to F12 keys and require you to press FN first.

On the positive side, the absence of G-keys, a wrist wrest and media controls allows G.Skill to make a slightly smaller board than either the K95 RGB Platinum or the company's own Ripjaws KM780 RGB. The KM570 measures 1.79 by 17.58 by 6.25 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.7 pounds. That's nearly three full inches narrower than the KM780, which boasts a row of six G-keys in addition to pieces of sculpted plastic that jut out even further from the keyboard's edges.

The KM570 connects to your PC using a braided USB 2.0 cable with double connectors, which means you need two spare USB ports. Unfortunately, there's no USB pass-through for connecting additional peripherals directly to the keyboard or charging your phone.

Extendable feet on the keyboard's top edge allow you to adjust its angle, but the adjustment is so minimal—less than half an inch of additional height—that you probably won't bother extending them. The good news if you appreciate typing at an angle is that the keyboard is sloped by default, with each of the five rows of sculpted keys contoured at a slightly different angle to achieve maximum ergonomic effect. That sounds unappealing if you prefer your keyboard to lay flat on the table like I do, but I found the contoured keys unexpectedly comfortable over several days of heavy typing.

Choice of Cherry Switches

In retrospect, I probably should have expected typing comfort, since my review unit is equipped with the Cherry MX Brown switches that I'm familiar with. G.Skill offers a choice of Cherry switches for the KM570; in addition to Brown, which is comfortable for both gaming and typing, you can choose Red, Blue, or Speed Silver switches. If you're not familiar with the differences between Cherry switches, check out our primer on mechanical keyboards for a quick overview. Cherry switches come with legendary reliability and durability (for instance, they're rated to withstand at least 50 million keystrokes), so which version you chose is largely a matter of personal preference.

It's worth noting that the Corsair Vengeance K95 also uses Cherry switches, but competing manufacturers like Logitech make their own proprietary mechanical switches. I mostly use the Logitech G603 as my primary keyboard, and I find its switches just as comfortable as the Cherry MX Brown ones.

As mentioned earlier, the relatively plain keycaps that sit on top of the switches on the KM570 aren't anything to type home about. The font is simple and the letters are very tiny, occupying just a small part of the key's upper half. This makes them virtually impossible to see in dimly lit areas. You'll likely have the backlights illuminated all the time, though, which will help you see the main labels but not the icons on the function or number keys, which aren't backlit. If you need or want to replace the keycaps, G.Skill includes a keycap puller tool in the box, but there's no replacement keycaps or storage case like the ones that come with the KM780.

G.Skill includes a two-year warranty with the KM570.

Clunky but Powerful Software

G.Skill's software for customizing the RGB lighting and other functions of its keyboards is adequately powerful but frequently cumbersome to use, as is the case when using it with the KM570. For example, lighting options are numerous, and there are many ways to customize the Wave, Breathing, Cycle, and five other modes. Confusingly, however, you select the Lighting Profiles window to change these settings, while if you actually want to create a new lighting profile (which can be stored on the keyboard's internal memory), you select the Lighting tab.

A few miscellaneous feature adjustments are relegated to a separate Setting tab, such as the polling and repeat rates, the n-key rollover settings, and the repeat delay feature. Macros get their own dedicated window, but as with the KM780, recording them is not an intuitive process, and first-timers will likely need some tutorial help. On balance, control software from Logitech and Razer is more intuitive than G.Skill's, though not necessarily more powerful. Fortunately, G.Skill includes a software user manual that is detailed, easy to follow, and surprisingly well-written.

If you'd rather not bother with the software after you've set things the way you like them, many of the functions can be controlled from the keys themselves, and that process is much more intuitive. Some of the function keys double as toggles for the Win-key lock (to eliminate accidental inputs while you're gaming) and the n-key rollover, for instance. There's even a dedicated MR (Macro Record) key next to the volume controls. You press it, then press a key to designate it as a macro key, wait for its LED to blink, record your key combination, and press MR to finish.

A Compact Bargain

The G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB keyboard is an excellent choice for gamers searching for the legendary reliability and comfort of Cherry switches without the bulk and hefty price tag that accompany high-end gaming keyboards. If you already know which Cherry style you prefer and your customization needs are limited to lighting effects and a few macros here and there, then the KM570 should be near the top of your list of boards to consider. If you'd rather have a more substantial keyboard with G-keys and oodles of styling flair, and you're willing to double your budget, you'll want to consider our Editors' Choice Corsair K95 RGB Platinum.

G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB

Bottom Line: Although not as feature-packed as more expensive gaming keyboards, the G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB offers Cherry switches, per-key RGB lighting, and an understated design at a palatable price.

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About the Author

Tom is PCMag's San Francisco-based news reporter. He got his start in technology journalism by reviewing the latest hard drives, keyboards, and much more for PCMag's sister site, Computer Shopper. As a freelancer, he's written on topics as diverse as Borneo's rain forests, Middle Eastern airlines, and big data's role in presidential elections. A graduate of Middlebury College, Tom also has a master's journalism degree from New York University. Follow him on Twitter @branttom. See Full Bio